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ESPN rates Dantoni's first 2 seasons as coach

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Knicks' D'Antoni has failed to do the job

Coach was hired to make New York respectable again; simply put, he hasn't

Mike D'Antoni was going to improve the product, at least that was the plan. He was going to entertain the fans with his helter-skelter approach, make the Knicks watchable and credible until they signed some real talent in the summer of the city's wildest hoop dreams.

[+] Enlarge <CITE>AP Photo/Rick Bowmer</CITE>It's been a frustrating two years, for Mike D'Antoni and for Knicks fans.

Donnie Walsh said so when he hired him. At the introductory news conference, Walsh maintained D'Antoni was the guy "to get our team playing the right way," a prerequisite to seducing free agents who otherwise might be turned off by a franchise showing an alarming lack of hustle and heart on the floor.

And guess what? Two seasons later, D'Antoni has managed the next-to-impossible: He's done nothing to better a job battered beyond recognition by his predecessors, Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown.

The winning Western Conference coach who was supposed to make the Knicks a relevant Eastern Conference presence hasn't honored his responsibilities any more than [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] honored theirs.

To say D'Antoni's been a D'Isappointment is to say his employer would kind of like to sign [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. When the Knicks were busy tanking these last two seasons in perfect Andre Agassi form, the focus remained on the players, and the fact they've been underskilled and overpaid. But with a $24 million contract, D'Antoni has been his own spectacular bust, and one that could cost the Knicks in the very free-agent derby that inspired them to tank these two seasons in the first place.

Start with the chief reason D'Antoni was hired: He'd averaged 58 victories over four freewheeling seasons with the Suns, while the athletically challenged Knicks averaged 28 victories over the same span. Walsh thought he was the best available candidate, and I was among the many who agreed.

Never mind that D'Antoni's boss in Phoenix, Steve Kerr, drove him to the airport with a one-way ticket in hand. Never mind that D'Antoni practiced defense about as much as Tiger Woods practiced Buddhism, or that he burped and diapered [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], or that he was regularly outfoxed by Gregg Popovich of the Spurs.

The man knew how to win a ton of regular-season games, and the Knicks had gone seven straight years of winning fewer than 40.

So by osmosis, D'Antoni's Knicks surely would compete, occasionally outscore the opposing team, and even throw a few alley-oops.

But beyond that, D'Antoni would be a recruiter the likes of Barry Switzer and Jerry Tarkanian. The free agents would kill to shoot 'em up in his wild west system, and as a Team USA aide, D'Antoni had already hardened his bond with James, who would call the Knicks coach "an offensive mastermind."

Only in the next breath, LeBron would fire a warning shot above D'Antoni's chalkboard. "You have to want to play defense first," James said, "and it has to be stressed in the locker room. It has to be stressed on the court. It has to be stressed during the games in order for you to be successful in the playoffs."

In other words, Mike, you've got two seasons to prove that you don't stop thinking about defense in seven seconds or less.

In response to that challenge, D'Antoni's Knicks made like the '85 Bears, right? Not exactly.

Listen, neither Red Holzman nor Red Auerbach could've won 45 or more games with either of the last two Knicks teams. The job was open for a reason. Thomas, Brown and Scott Layden made so many dreadful choices in chasing the bygone [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] trade that Walsh had to do to the Knicks what a ton of dynamite just did to Texas Stadium.

But during the painful rebuilding, it wasn't too much to ask D'Antoni to earn his $6 million wage and inspire his team to play hard. To contest shots. To grind out enough blood-and-guts victories to challenge for the eighth playoff seed in Year 2 of the program.

"I think the only thing we're disappointed in," D'Antoni said Monday night, before the Knicks beat Washington in their 2010 Garden goodbye, "is not fighting right down to the wire for the playoffs." The only thing? "We were able to clear some cap space and set up for this summer," the coach continued. "That was our strategy in doing it."

That and developing a few young prospects. On that front, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] have hopeful NBA futures, and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] has a shot at one. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] grew into an All-Star, and in fairness, D'Antoni deserves his share of credit for that.

Of course, Lee isn't expected back, not if the Knicks hit the jackpot they absolutely need to hit. James should choose New York because of the magnitude of the stage, because he'll win 50 games just by showing up, and because he can handpick his coach.

But what happens if LeBron and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] can't get past the Knicks' record? What happens if they ask D'Antoni why he couldn't convince Lee and friends to prevent him from becoming the first Knicks coach since Hubie Brown to lose at least 50 games in back-to-back seasons?

"I don't think that's a problem," D'Antoni said. "First of all, anybody you go after, when they come in they'll say, 'Well, yeah, you didn't have me.' … I'm not worried about it. Maybe they do; you'd have to ask them."

The liberated megastars want to win multiple rings, and they know defense wins championships. Now that D'Antoni is more a liability than the recruiting asset he was meant to be, Walsh needs to do what Kerr wanted to do in Phoenix, and impose a defensive coordinator on his head coach.

In fact, Walsh should make his first big score before free agency kicks in July 1 and throw a busload of money at Celtics aide Tom Thibodeau, a move that would impress the savvy likes of LeBron and D-Wade.

"We have to have a great summer," D'Antoni said.

A great summer in spite of the head coach.

"If we can't do it, yeah, it was hard, it wasn't a good choice," D'Antoni said. "But that's life, and we just didn't … I didn't get it done."

Mike D'Antoni has spent two years not getting it done. If that costs the Knicks this summer, he won't be around for two more.

If Hubie Brown was the last Knick coach to lose 50 back to back, then that sais it all about how **** the players were and are now.

History repeats itself? Don't think D'Antoni's on Hubie's level, but it can't be denied that he was both the coach of a **** team AND made some dreadful errors this season. I still lean toward our ****ty ass team being the main factor for another putrid losing season

we have no players
literally no players
I dont get why any one still wont understand this
WE have no one

WE have no pg
no sg
young inexperienced sf's
a nondefensive pf playing out of position
because why ?
we have no Center either

we have no bench
and we have no legit go to scorer
we have no chemistry based on all of the exp contracts
we have no shot blocking
no play making
and no knock down shooters

we have no past, future or present dynamic amongst these players in terms of coming from a winning program in either college or nba, not one of our players have ever won it all at any level in their basketball careers.

I dont care who is coaching us the writing is on the wall
our roster is absolutely 29-53 material

Phil Jackson passed up the job for this reason
Larry brown got himself fired for this reason
I give Mike D all the credit in the world for actually tolerating this for 2 seasons.

how any one can sit here and base anything on the coach is ridiculous, he had nothing to work with, not once did he have even an inkling of a player who can emerge as a legit all around star comparable to the likes of any playoff team.

I hear your points though, I think coaching staff does need some blame as intelligent adjustments weren't made, things seemed to get more personal than business at times (Nate, Hughes) and in general a coach needs to motivate better, hard play was lacking on too many occasions. That said I agree our roster just wasn't up to par to expect a lot out of.

we have no players
literally no players
I dont get why any one still wont understand this
WE have no one

WE have no pg
no sg
young inexperienced sf's
a nondefensive pf playing out of position
because why ?
we have no Center either

we have no bench
and we have no legit go to scorer
we have no chemistry based on all of the exp contracts
we have no shot blocking
no play making
and no knock down shooters

we have no past, future or present dynamic amongst these players in terms of coming from a winning program in either college or nba, not one of our players have ever won it all at any level in their basketball careers.

I dont care who is coaching us the writing is on the wall
our roster is absolutely 29-53 material

Phil Jackson passed up the job for this reason
Larry brown got himself fired for this reason
I give Mike D all the credit in the world for actually tolerating this for 2 seasons.

how any one can sit here and base anything on the coach is ridiculous, he had nothing to work with, not once did he have even an inkling of a player who can emerge as a legit all around star comparable to the likes of any playoff team.

Maybe you should open the link and actually watch the video because there were valid reasons as to why the team should have at least performed better and competed for the 8th spot. Not get it but COMPETE for it.

The Knicks beat a couple of top teams this year so there is no reason for them to consistently lose to bad teams.

Im Losing It
Sorry As A Knicks Fan For 20 Years I Have Finally Lost My ****
I Cant Take It Any More
If They Dont Win Next Year
If They Dont Sign Max Free Agents I Am Going To Burn The Garden Down Myself
I Cant Take It Any More
I Cant Take Being Made Fun Of When I Put On My Jersey
I Cant Stand Having All Of My Posters Locked Up In Storage From Previous Apartments
I Cant Stand Dolans Gotee
I Cant Stand Herb Williams Sitting There Like A Sick Puppy Dog
I Cant Stand Seeing Patrick Ewing Every Time We Play The Magic Reminding Me Of What Knick Basketball Should Be

very nice find.....people are finally seeing that Mike D is a complete bust...not because its "un fair" that he has crappy players, but the fact that he never teaches defense and Amare said he never taught defense in Phoenix.

We lost most of our games this year on poor defense and with Mike D not helping out at all, and Herb Williams farting in the wind, we were basically sunk every game when it came to any offensive minded team on the opposite end.

I agree with this guy's article saying that we should make it a #1 priority sign a defensive assistant coach, that guy for Boston is perfect.

Im Losing It
Sorry As A Knicks Fan For 20 Years I Have Finally Lost My ****
I Cant Take It Any More
If They Dont Win Next Year
If They Dont Sign Max Free Agents I Am Going To Burn The Garden Down Myself
I Cant Take It Any More
I Cant Take Being Made Fun Of When I Put On My Jersey
I Cant Stand Having All Of My Posters Locked Up In Storage From Previous Apartments
I Cant Stand Dolans Gotee
I Cant Stand Herb Williams Sitting There Like A Sick Puppy Dog
I Cant Stand Seeing Patrick Ewing Every Time We Play The Magic Reminding Me Of What Knick Basketball Should Be

Im Losing It
Sorry As A Knicks Fan For 20 Years I Have Finally Lost My ****
I Cant Take It Any More
If They Dont Win Next Year
If They Dont Sign Max Free Agents I Am Going To Burn The Garden Down Myself
I Cant Take It Any More
I Cant Take Being Made Fun Of When I Put On My Jersey
I Cant Stand Having All Of My Posters Locked Up In Storage From Previous Apartments
I Cant Stand Dolans Gotee
I Cant Stand Herb Williams Sitting There Like A Sick Puppy Dog
I Cant Stand Seeing Patrick Ewing Every Time We Play The Magic Reminding Me Of What Knick Basketball Should Be

They Suck
Coaches Suck
Gms
Suck
They All Suck

Im One Year Away From Becoming A Utah Jazz Fan.

this is funny...

if you are going to switch teams i suggest the Thunder or Portland because you are guaranteed to see young players getting better every year that are great already....the upside of those two teams is fantastic.

Im Losing It
Sorry As A Knicks Fan For 20 Years I Have Finally Lost My ****
I Cant Take It Any More
If They Dont Win Next Year
If They Dont Sign Max Free Agents I Am Going To Burn The Garden Down Myself
I Cant Take It Any More
I Cant Take Being Made Fun Of When I Put On My Jersey
I Cant Stand Having All Of My Posters Locked Up In Storage From Previous Apartments
I Cant Stand Dolans Gotee
I Cant Stand Herb Williams Sitting There Like A Sick Puppy Dog
I Cant Stand Seeing Patrick Ewing Every Time We Play The Magic Reminding Me Of What Knick Basketball Should Be

im not going to become a jazz fan, I said utah because they lost their legacy in malone and stockton but did things the right way and rebuilt the right way, so I look at their organization with alot more respect than most. But I am always going to be a knicks fan, Im just SICK of it.

I hope Mike D'Antoni gets fired, but it is highly unlikely. He sucks as a coach. He's too concerned with his ego, playing favorites with his rotations, and publicly insulting other basketball players than helping the Knicks win. I don't care if D'Antoni goes elsewhere. I just don't want him on the Knicks.

I hope Mike D'Antoni gets fired, but it is highly unlikely. He sucks as a coach. He's too concerned with his ego, playing favorites with his rotations, and publicly insulting other basketball players than helping the Knicks win. I don't care if D'Antoni goes elsewhere. I just don't want him on the Knicks.

i dont thin k he should be fired but yea so far he does seem like a dick, that cant put his ego aside at all. if he cant get into the playoffs next season regardless of how much talent we pick up, he needs to dipset.

I hope Mike D'Antoni gets fired, but it is highly unlikely. He sucks as a coach. He's too concerned with his ego, playing favorites with his rotations, and publicly insulting other basketball players than helping the Knicks win. I don't care if D'Antoni goes elsewhere. I just don't want him on the Knicks.

The one thing I agree with you on is publicly insulting players. Jordan Hill said/did nothing to deserve that. As a public figure he has to watch his mouth. And to D's credit, he didn't come out pandering in the public against Marbury when that all went down, he hasn't publicly criticized Curry or the effort of any of the guys on the team.

But that all went to **** when he basically slammed Hill in the public eye. THAT is something I cannot forgive someone for. First of all, if he's so bad, why did you go draft him? Second of all, he's a kid (relatively), you shouldn't be out there bashing him. D'Antoni is in the public, he knows what he says to reporters is going to be thrown out there in the public. You have to be smarter than that.

All that said, I don't think he's totally inept as a coach. A lot of players rather like him from Team USA. I notice a lot of players on the other team coming over specifically to D'Antoni before the game and not just shaking hands, but giving hugs. I think many players walk a fine line with D, I don't doubt that. He's very much a guy that, if you get on his bad side, there's no getting out of it.

At the same time, I think I'd rather have a guy that my players are afraid to cross than a guy who creates a locker room where players can just do whatever the hell they want. Neither is great, but the former, in my opinion, is better. My problem is that I don't want my players afraid to go out and make a mistake. You see a lot of guys in some systems (Larry Brown) where they make one mistake and are taken out. That really doesn't help anyone, and has players playing scared. Say what you will about Mike, if you are on his good side, he will give you a chance to succeed even if you have failed previously.

I just don't see what good firing Mike D'Antoni does. It makes our situation here look a lot less stable (and less attractive for incoming FAs) and knowing Dolan we would probably cheap out on the next coach, he doesn't want to pay D'Antoni AND someone else. And for the love of Christ, NO HERB WILLIAMS.